When Michael Newton decided to show some televised football in his hotel bar, he didn't realise it was going to cost him almost £3000.

At Haverfordwest Magistrates Court today (Monday), he pleaded guilty to three separate charges of receiving a programme with intent to avoid paying.

The prosecutor told the court how Newton, of Charlton House in Pembroke Dock, had his licence to show Sky Sports in his Dolphin Hotel bar revoked in February 2004 due to non-payment.

However, on three occasions between December 2008 and January 2009 he was found to be showing live football using his own personal Sky card.

The prosecutor added that Newton was in breach of the 2003 Licensing Act and the cost for a non-domestic satellite television licence was approximately £354 a month.

Defending himself, Newton insisted he never intended to make profit: "I brought my own sky dish over because a few of the boys asked if they could watch football" he said.

Newton added he had tried to negotiate a new package with Sky but to cover the monthly bill he would have to sell an extra 800 pints per month.

"Their rates are unfair" he said. "My bar is very small and they should price according to the square area size of the bar."

Newton was fined £1500 and ordered to pay £1133 in costs, as well as £15 victim surcharge. On Hearing the verdict he said: "I served 21 customers for those three games and it's cost me nearly £3000."